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Coco Gauff is looking to win her first grand slam title this Saturday in front of what is likely to be a raucous crowd.
CNN
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And then there are two.
After two intense weeks of action, the girls US Open The draw ends on Saturday with the expected final between the home favourites Coco Gauff and world no. 2 Aryna Sabalenka.
Both players produced stunning tennis leading up to the final and while Sabalenka will enter the match as favourite, Gauff confident that he will overcome the final hurdle in front of a partisan crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The action for the final grand slam title of the season begins at 4 pm ET. US viewers can watch all the action on ESPN.
A first grand slam for Gauff?
The last time Gauff and Sabalenka met was in the quarterfinals at Indian Wells in March, where the Belarusian comfortably won 6-4 6-0. Saturday’s final should be a different contest, however, with Gauff improving rapidly in the six months that have passed since that loss.
The 19-year-old has won three WTA titles this season, including biggest of his career in Cincinnati before the US Open, and has won 17 of his last 18 matches. She is the youngest American woman to reach the US Open final since a 17-year-old Serena Williams did it in 1999.
“Serena is Serena. He is the GOAT. I hope to do half of what he did,” said Gauff, per WTA.
It was the second grand slam final of Gauff’s career after reaching the French Open final in 2022, where he was easily defeated by Iga Świątek.
Sarah Stier/Getty Images
Coco Gauff battled against Karolína Muchová to reach the US Open final.
But after her 6-4 7-5 semi-final victory over Karolína Muchová, Gauff spoke about the evolution of her mentality, from someone afflicted with imposter syndrome to now believing she can fight with the best players in the world.
“I think so [imposter syndrome] still a part of me,” he said. “It’s something I do a lot of, for sure. Even after [winning Washington] DC, I’m still like: ‘Well, I beat some good people, but I probably caught them on days off.’
“It’s still a part of me, but I think I’m giving myself more credit and saying things that are true. I’m trying to talk more positively about myself and really talk about myself that I am a good player.
The sixth seed told reporters that after his first-round loss at Wimbledon he was “preparing for next year,” before adding that he was “really proud of myself” for the way he performed in Flushing. Meadows.
“I focus more on myself and my expectations of myself,” Gauff said, per Reuters. “I really believe that now I have the maturity and ability to do it.”
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Gauff reached the final of the French Open in 2022.
Until his semifinal against Madison KeysSabalenka has been dominant in New York – not dropping a set and not losing more than five games in a match.
However, he was pushed by the American on Thursday and had to recover from a brutal 6-0 loss in the first set, eventually winning 0-6 7-6 (7-1) 7-6 (10-5 ) .after two and a half hours of grueling tennis.
Such was the likelihood of a Keys victory late in the second set, Gauff was even asked about the possibility of facing his fellow American in his post-match press conference.
Sabalenka’s run to the US Open final capped a remarkable year in which she won three titles – including her first grand slam at the Australian Open and her sixth Masters 1000 title in Madrid. Win or lose on Saturday, he will be crowned the new world No.
Despite winning the last time they met, Sabalenka touted Gauff’s progress this season and said she is a “much better” player today than she was six months ago.
“She’s improved a lot,” said Sabalenka to reporters after her semifinal. “So it’s a different player – we don’t like to think about the game.
Darren Carroll/AP
Aryna Sabalenka made it to the semifinals before facing Madison Keys.
“When I go to this final, I think I have to focus myself and prepare myself for another fight. No matter what, just keep fighting and keep playing my best and do my best.
“You know, there’s nothing you can do, what else can you do? You just have to be there and you have to fight for it. ”
Sabalenka will no doubt have to play in front of a partisan crowd in Saturday’s final but having overcome the intense atmosphere against Keys on Thursday, she said she felt confident of handling the occasion.
“Of course, I prefer it [to] there is something else or [the] The crowd will be equally small for both players, but today’s match I think will help me in the final because I will be fine with this support. I’m fine,” he said.
“I still hope that maybe some of them will support me – just a little. Just sometimes, please. Please,” he laughed.